Electric tracker mechanism



2 Sheets-S, heet 1 C. E. BROWN ELECTRIC TRACKER KBCHANISM Filed 001;. 1l. 1923 Aug. 24 1926.

Aug. 24 1926. 1,597,049

C. E. BROWN ELECTRIC TRACKER MBCHANISII Filed Oct. 11. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

CARL E. BROWN, oF COLUMBUS, oHIo.

ELECTRIC TRACKER MECHANISM.

` Appucationnied october 11. 192s. serial No. 667,814.

My invention relates to electric tracker mechanism for player pianos, or other rlike instruments, and more particularly to control thereof, in such a Way as to shift from "one kind of music to another fromr a point of remote control.

My invention also relates to electrically operated players, and to a vmode of controlling not only the movement of a perforated sheet across a tracker bar, but also in shuttingon and off the electric .current from these perforated rolls which are not in use.

In the moving picture theatre there is a decided need for control of the music by the picture machine operator, in order to pro* vide music of the correct character for the different scenes and episodes of the picture. My invention is directed toward the provision of .such` a means, and also the use of the usual perforated music roll in the selection of electric circuits to energize electromagnets setting into operation the several notes of the piano or organ. I wish to note here that by use of the term piano in this specification, I wish to include organs and other like automatic musical instruments.

In the use of slotted rolls for exposing electric contacts, and shifting from one set of music. sheets to another, it is necessary to shut off the current from the tracker bar, in shifting from one player mechanism to another, or else certain of the notes, as exposed through the idle player mechanism may block the operation of these notes by another, or cause discordant notes to be sounded. My .invention as noted provides a mechanism 'for accomplishing this, said mechanism operating at the same time and from a remote point, the clutch mechanism by means of which the paper feed is controlled. f

These objects and advantages I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more specifically pointed out and claimed.

In the drawings: f

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing two units of a selective automatic player.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a detail side elevation on a larer scale of a tracker bar, and the contro ling mechanism.

Figure 4 is a detail of the operating mechanism for the sliding sleeve clutch.

Referring to the drawings, which are intended as illustrative, rather than as by di mensionr anddetail, showing only possible construction, I show frame parts, generally as 1, and sheets of perforated music paper at 2. It will be understood that these music sheets are preferably formed in a continuous band, and each band arranged to render music of one selected type, such as martial, sentimental, gay, and the like. be as many different player units as desired. Extending along in the frame outside of the tracker compartments is a drive shaft 3, which is always in motion, the drive shaft There may 05 having a series of keyed sliding sleeves Ll, 4,

one for each player mechanism. these sleeves having pinions 5 lixed thereon. An, electromagnet 6, is provided for each sleeve opera.- tion, these magnets being controlled from a selective switch at a remote point, say a 76 moving picture booth in a moving picture theatre.

The magnets have ari'natures 7, sliding on guide pins 8, and having small brackets 9 secured to the outer faces thereof. brackets engage over flanges 10 on the sleeves, so that the sleeves are pulled in this instance, to the left, vwhen the magnets are operated. The sleeves also have arms ll These 80 thereon, which extend parallel to the shaft 8l 3, said arms being equipped with fingers 12, which as will be ynoted trip the trackerl contact brushes.

vReferring now to the playing mechanism.v it will `benotedA that Ishow several tracker bars 13, in which are set suiiicient contact pins 14,' at least for each note in the piano. yRolls of. perforated .music sheets are slipped into sockets mounted in the frame supporting the tracker mechanisms. The front ends of the sheets are passed over guide rolls, then over the tracker bars and by raising the weighted pressure rolls 15 in 4 their axial slots in the frame passed between them and the drive rolls 16 which are preferably faced With rubber. The perforated music sheets, passing from the drive rolls, may be confined in any suitable space below the drive rollers until it is desired to rewind them on their respective rollers. The particular construction of the music rolls or the manner in which they are mounted are not within the scope of this invention, my device providing a simple method of insertion over los the tracker bars and adjustment within the n,

driving rolls. The driving rolls 16 have spindles extending through the frame Where they are equipped with gears 1T. These gears 1T lie alongside ot the. shaft 3, and the energizing ot' anv magnet pulls pinion 5 to a position oiu mesh with the adjacent `gear 1'?.

The brush as herewith illustrated has a bodv Q0, mounted on a rock shai't 2l. The )edv forms a casing for a long brush, the length otl the tracker bar, and termed ot a large munber et line copper or brass wires having the ends cut to t'orm a flatcontact Vr the t A long; weight i223, mounted tracker. I I part ot the body ot the brush by means :i plate Q-l, rests on the wires ot the brush, -il keeps them against the tracker. The krdiat't has derending tongues Q5, which 1e path of the lingers l2, ol' the clutch rihns the action oi' the electro-magwing' the clutch sleeves into mesh- V, position to drive the sheet music 'feed i i, will also release the brush for the particular tracker, permitting it to tall into conL c* position. fr spring 25a secured to ezicii fingerr` acts as a return against the action oi the magnets, there@v restoring' each ized position of its arinae'net to non-ener are, the clutches to non-engaging' relaand the brushes to position swung b v et their rok shafts out ot Contact Yi their trackers.

i will be noted that the remote control oi is device can be verv siinplvv arranged, niicwire the selected ma et ior the kind c desired into closed circuit and openi all other magnet circuits, by a simple selective switch.

Having thus descril ed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- 'ers liatent, is 2- l. Ein electrical regulating device tor musical instrun'ients, employing perforated roll music sheets, con'iprising a series or' independent tracker bars, and paper feeding` devices, and a series of electric contact brushes, one for each tracker bar, a common driving element tor the paper feeding devices, clutches intermediate the driving elenient, and the several feeding devices, brush frontact inhibiting means and said clutches peratively connected therewith.

An electrical regulating,T device for musical instruments, employing perforated roll music sheets, comprisingr a series of independent tracker bars, and paper feeding devices, and a` series yot electric contrat brushes, one Ytor each tracker bar, a common driving element tor the paper teeding devices, clutches intermediate the driving elenient and the several 'feeding devices, brush contact inhibiting means and said clutches operatively connected therewith, and operating mechanism tor said clutches, having:r a remote control.

El. A regulating,Y device for musical instruments. rauploving perforated roll, music sheets, compi ng a series or independently tracl-:ers and a series oi independn lv inhibitive brushes tor said trackers, r'eed device having' a driving gear each tracker, a driven shait, a series ot sliding sleeves en the shai't having gears to mesh wth said Yteed device gears, :and individual electrical operatin'air means 'for the sleeves whereby any selected one ot i iced devices can be operated.

)i regulatinedevice ior musical instruments, employing perforated roll music sheets comprising a series oi independently ibitive trih l s and a series ot independfntly iuhibitive brushes ior said trackers, raper teed device having;` a driving gear hereftor, one for each tracker, a driven shalt, a series ot sliding,r sleeves on the shaft havingI j-'ears to mesh with said feed device gears, and individual electrical operatinl means 'ter the sleeves whereby anv selected one of tre tecd devices can he operated, said liras-hes being rockable to and from Contact position, and means on the sleeves Ator rocking4 the brushes into contact when the sleeves are drawn toward gear meshing,r position. 

